Method and apparatus for trimming fruit



Aug 7, 1928.

A. L. DUNCAN METHOD AND PPARATUSFOR TRIMMING FRUIT 2 Sheets-Sheet lFiled Aprilv'?, 1926 /////Z////////////// s l w 7 illl///ZZV//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////qlnllllsllv III! 'rwantoc Aug. 7, 1928. l 1,679,817

A. l.. DUNCAN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRIMMING FRUIT Filed April '7,1926 2 Smets-Sheet 2 lill ill

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'llhe pieseut invention relates to methode ahd apparatus fortii'iaimihg; lli-uit.

lll'oie pai'ticularlT the invention l'elatee to i'uethode aiid apparatusloi' trimming eHteiioi' pi'ojeeliohe and irregularities from the pulpoit divided or halved and pitted or eoi'ed teuitfi. euch toi exaiople,as peaches, aud the like.` lh natiiiifal toi'mation oit single pilhuite, such ae peaches, ahd the like, a :sipilre oi' tip loi-uio ou thepulp of the fruit omioeite the eteu'l end oill the fruit, aud euhelahtiallgT iii lille with the Spike off the pit, aud a hatuial ei'eaeeloimed in the pulp ol the trait. euhehzutolly iu the plane oit the liuwlge oi' oului'e olf the pit. lleeidee the epilio oi tip loi'uied ou thepulp, iifi'eeall-ai'i 'tieduehtljy oeeui ueually in the plahe ot theelem-e whieh Vender the fruit ohjeetioiiahle toe high evade eahhihgpuiipoew.. It

the euetoai ih calming fruit olf this; Chairaetru to halve the 'Fruitiii the plane et the irreale.. alud the pit la ieuioved thei'elioui inu'oll lfiiowu u'iaimei. ".he lj'i'uit halvee ai'e l li'eated with lifeto ieluove the eltlh. hf ade Canned truite. the tip or ,ie pio L.lou olithe pulp ie i'eu'ioved und e halved pulp eeetio'os ot' the fruit are jaded usually lh well hhowu types ot auto- .hiatie g" ding iuaehiiiee lawhich hy a ehaliiup; opel Y. ioh the halved 'll'uite are conveyedlooselyY over a ee olE ma'eehe with holee ol [lilik-Veut diameteife andthe halves diop thioua'h the :Hari-eeh holes eoii'lfol'hiihg to their oiahielei. lii thie w: the iliuit halves are soiled oi' pjizuled iuto mhautially Luii'loifui einen lliogi'mled li'uit io thee conveyed tomultiple eauuuirgg tables, a tahl@ heilig; piroi'ided toi' each gri-adeolf li'uit heilig.; eamied. lit the eaiiu u tahlee, opei'atois, ueuall,7miniem dive:` aa uiueh iiti'uit ae ie `rlee'u'ed ilfioui the conveneitohim: pffwhleril t'oi' thie puipoae. llhe operatore piek up each indiiiilual halved 'haut 'from the hiiie. iiiepe( it. eai tullj,T and .Thetiuit which ie lfi'ee lfi'olu ohje ouahle iifieluilui'itiee andpi'opei'l)r led is placed iu eahs's. Uhjeetiouahle halves; aie i'ejoetedand are thrown iii o eull ieeeptaelee ti-om which the rejected limit ieeohveyed to pie lettlee i' slicing; luaehiues; to he tieaed iii a di uitmanuel :than the piime lluit oilil-ee grade l'i'uit. lheause ot thetough joltiiig; and hahdliuzea iii the ilihgf and eji'adiue; maehihee3many the tiaiit haha-f; which :i-:hould malte lfaaey :l2-ulti eepeeallythe lisait euch ao Meo Vstates PATENT-OFFICE.

lUE. el'ial ll'o. llllljillllY peaches which are iiielihed to he ou theripe eide, heeoiue ili'ayod and uueightly, aud are thiowu hilo the eulliaeeptaele with. the uatuially d oi'uied aud ohjeetiohahle limit. lh thepie l; i aud the elieiuej hiaeliiues. the l'iuit is i lueed al' a peatdeal ol extra lalooi' to louei' parades oil? @aimed 2 oodS 'lfhe amountoit li'ut which is ihjuied in dually hy loup hi'uidlihp; ih thepeelii'iggr .u'iaehinos;7 ahd i" ae* through the aliada. with the leeultthat iii a eaiihei f we lll pel' Geht oi.' ,more oit the lfi'u i: n t edthe efi'adihgf mam ehiue ie iohu'ed ih rp A l 1 .p and iuuet Vhe iliadeioto lowelarado li' uit.

lu accordance with hay iiafi'ehtiohs l have 'found that itia leaeihh lotreat the 'fruit haliic'xif: iu euch a uiaiihei that the halves; arei'edueed to a unit i size, and the deformitier-i and lifi'effula'u .Jiiichuliiug; the tip or :zpilte oioj il ou he pulp ump be 1ehalved. lo.the`y way the :tiuit halvea are ifedueed to uhilioi'iu aimee' ot highgigi'ade appeai'auee aud may he made iiito lauey waffles ot eaiuiedtluit. lllhle my method ol' todo@ ing; the liuit to uhilolie oiti'egulai Shape they he'ea'i'i'iedl out hy hahrh the amount ol handlahoi: heee to tl'irh even the culled and i'ejeeted lfi'ui eau het heSecured during the eahuihfi; e aeoh Iuidei' pres out eondltiohe. l haveaccordingly devised halvee ihto eiieulaishape, and ireuioif'ihpr4 theunsightly ii'i'eouillai'itlea at the edggee ofthe halwel iii eapidiiiaiuieiz lll/*hilo all oit the 'lllut eauiied may he tl'hiuiied ihaccordance with hay ihifehtiou, lf pieter to limit the ap* plieatioutheieot to the culled oi' iejeeted li'uit. .lily utilizing iupiugipioved rapid trimming appaialiuo and uietlmd.y the labor involved`iied'utaiml to eueh ah eatent that olie opeiatoi' eah readily handleall ot the rejected oi' culled 'truite ihohi a multiple tahlo olhiae oruioi'e hiuau liu this Way the culled li'uit may he tiiiuuied to taiiei,`grades ol? Smaller azee at a eiuall ooe-t, and the amount ot liuitWhieh .afluethe reduced to sliced oi' pie goede is; materially reduced.le the .mijeeled or eulled 'ti-uit@ li'oiii a given eauiiiiie' tahlealle ol aiaholahtially` uniform size they may zweoiwluel h@ reduced totaaey ofi-ados ot a ehi; will;7 Smaller size, :uid my iuif'eutiou ieprelim-ably carried out hy piovidim.;` au iiuuoifed la'iuuiiiug deviceloi` each multiple eaiuiihg table, which s` Civ sizeof fruit to whichthe trimmed fruit has K been conveyed is being. handled and passes asne'fruit. The trimmings and the remainl ing fruit not lit to be trimmedare passed to the slicing machines or pie kettles.

Accordingly a primary object of my invenf tion is to provide novelmethods and apparatus for trimming fruit halves into regular shapes anduniform sizes.

Another object of the invention is to `provides novel methods andapparatus for cenverting frayed and irregular rejected fruithalves fromWhich the pits have been removed, into trimmed fruit fit for high gradecanning.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of novel trimmingand cutting apparatus for rapidly and eiiiciently trimming fruit halvesinto uniform sizes.

Still further objects of the invention will appear hereinafter in thedetailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, andare such as are defined by the terms of the appended claims.V

v Referring tothe drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation through a preferred form of theapparatus for carrying out the trimming operations in accordance with myinvention.

y size', taken Aalong line A-A of Figure 1.

of Figure 3.

Figure Bis a 'perspective view showing the modified form of -theapparatus for carrying out my method.

Figure '4: is a'sectional view on line A--A As shown in Figures 1 and 2,a suitable basev supporting casting 1 is provided to which a table 2v issecured by means of the studs 3. VThe table 2 is provided with an upperflatsurface l in which the semi-eir-v cular discharge opening 5 for thetrimmed fruit is formed. Supported in the center of thesurface 4' is astub shaft-or spindle upon Which the plate 6 is journaled for rotation.The plate or turn table 6 is 'provided' with fruit receiving andconfining recessesor holes 7 and 8, each of the proper diameter toreceive'the fruit halves 9 vto be trimmedand as indicated by the brokenline. Formed at diametrically points in the edge of the disc or plate 6are' 'the V-shaped locating notches 10 in which the V-shaped end ofplunger 11 is adapted to seat. The plunger 11 is seated Figure 2 is asectional view reduced iny opposite in a bore formed in a suitableprojection 12 of the table 2, and is forced against the edge of plate 6by means of a helical spring 13. Drilled in the table 2 is a registeringhole 14, which'when the end of the plunger 11 is seated in one of thenotches 10, is in alignment with one of the holes 15 drilled through theplate 6. Disposed in alignment with and directly above the hole 14 isthe end 1G of a registering rod 1G. The registering rod 1G is slidablysupported and guided for vertical reciprocation in an extension 17 of asupporting bracket 18 which in turn is secured to the base casting 1 bymeans of the studs 18. The upper end of the registering rod 16 isrigidly secured by means of a nut threaded on the end thereof to one endof the arm 19 which at its other end is secured to the verticalreciprocating rod 19 by means of the securing pin 20. rThe upper end ofthe rod 19 is pivotally secured to a hand lever 21 by means of a pivotpin 22. One end of the hand lever 21 is secured by means of the pins 23to the upper ends of a pair of links 2a which at their lower ends areconnected by means of the pins 25 to a suitable extension of the bracket18. A driving or hollow spindle sleeve 26 surrounding and rotatable onrod 19 is journaled in the bearing section 27 of the'bracket 18. Securedto the sleeve or hollow spindle 2G is a key 28 by means of which it isslidably keyed to a sleeve or bearing member 29 which supports spindle2G and is journaled for rotation in the bearing 30 of the bracket 18.Seated against the face 31 of the sleeve 29 is a bevel driving pinion 32which is slidably keyed to Vkey 28 slidably lits. Meshing with anddriving the pinion 32 is a beveled gear 34 which is keyed to the end ofa shaft 35 journaled in the bracket 18 and driven by a pulley 36. Keyedto and supported from the lower end of the hollow spindle 26 is a cupshaped cutter holder 37 to which a circular cutter 38 provided with thecutting edge 39 is secured. The internal diameter of the cutting member38 is equal to the diameter to which it is desired to trim the fruithalves and the outer diameter thereof is slightly' smaller than thediameter of the holes 7 and 8 in the turn table G. The parts are soproportioned and arranged that cutter 38 will be disposed above theholes 7 or 8 which is directly beneath the cutter when the locatingrplunger 11 is in registration with one of the notches 10 and registeringholes 14 and 15 are in alignment. Formed in the lower end of the rod 19is a central bore 40 in which the upper end of a rod /ll is slidablyfitted. A slot 42 is eut into the lll) and seated against the uppersurface of the Y cup shaped member 42 is a helical spring 44. The upper'end of the spring `44 seats against a collar which is threaded on thelower end of the rod 19 which at the same time holds the knifesupporting member 37 in position, and spindle 26 in posi `tion on andmovable vertically with the rod `19 and the connected parts are held inready open position by a coil spring 46 interposed between the handle 21and the projecting shelf 47 of the bearing 27. i

In operat-ion of this form of device, spindle 25, together-.with cutter`38 are rotated on rod 19 by rotation of pulley 36 which is driven in anysuitable manner. The fruit halves to be trimmed are placed in positionin the receiving holes 7 and 8 `formed in the turn table 6 and the turntable is positioned to bring one of the holes 7 or 8 in alignment withthe cutter 38 in which position the locking plunger 11 will seat in oneof the V-shaped notches 10 in the turn table. The operator then pullsthe handle 21 downward against the tension of the spring 46, forcing therod 19, together with the rotating sleeve 26 and registering rod 16downward. The initial downward movement of parts causes the tapered end16 of the registering rod to enter the hole 15 in the turn table 6 ifthe part-s have `been brought into proper alignment. If the turn table 6is not properly positioned to align one of the holes 7 or 8 with thecutter 38, the end of the registering rod 16 will engage the uppersurface of the turn table and prevent further downward movement of thecutter 38, in this manner preventing inadvertent engagement of thecutting edge of the cutter 38 with the metal surface of the turn table.`

It the parts are in proper alignment, the end ot registering rod 16 willenter into the hole 15 and pass downward to the hole 14, locking theparts in proper position. Continued downward movement of the handle 21will cause the `prongs`43 of the cup shape member 42 to enter the fruithalf 9 and the `cup 42 engages the fruit pulp, compressing the pulp ofthe fruit and causing it to spread and come in contact with retainingwall of the receiving hole, filling the receiving hole and holding pulpagainst rotation. When the fruit pulp is compressed to a point where thetension oi' spring 44 will be overcome, the rod 19 will move downwardwith relation to the rod 41 and further movement of tlm handle `bringsthe cutting edge 39 of the rotating cutter 38 into contact with theedges of the fruit.

The rotating cutter 38 trims off the outer a trimmedcircular shape. Thehandle 21 is released after the pulp has been trimmed and spring 46restores the parts to the position shown in Figure 1. As soon as theregister- `ing rod 16 is withdrawn, from the hole 15, ,the operatorrotates the table 6 counter .edges'of the pulp leaving the central partin i clock-wise in Figure 2. As the trimmed fruit reaches the recess orcut away portion 5 in the table 2, it will together with the trimmings,drop downward into a receptacle from which the trimmed pulp halves areseparated and conveyed to the propercanning table, while the trimmingsare carried to the pie kettles or slicing machines. When the table 6 hasbeen rotated to 180 degrees, another fruit half will be in alignmentwith the cutter 38, the locking member 11 will register with theopposite locking notch 10 and another fruit half to be trimmed will bein algnment to the cutter 38. 21 is again actuated to bring the rotatingcutterinto engagement with the fruit pulp, and a new half of the fruitto be trimmed is placed in the hole in the turn table, opposite theposition of the cutter. In this way it will be seen that the fruit israpidly and effectively trimmed into circular shape of uniform size. i i

In theform of invention so far described, no provision is made fortrimming oil' a slice from the flat or face of the fruit halves beingtrimmed. In Figure 3 a modification Vof the invention is shown in whichthis may supported by the spindle 19, and the rotating cutter parts aresubstantially the same in construction and operation as set forth in theparts to which similar reference characters have been applied in Figure1, and these parts are supported on a bracket 1n- `dicated by referencenumeral 18 in Figure 3.

The remainder of apparatus is modified, however, as hereinafter setforth. The bracket 18 is supported on a post, secured to a post 47 bymeans of set screws and is secured thereto by means of a` suitablesecuring bolt 48. Post 47 at its lower end is supported in a suitablebase casting 49. On post 47 a bracket 50 is secured by a screw 51. Thebracket is widened `at its end as shown at 52 and is bored transverselyto provide a receptacle 53 to receive the fruit to be operated upon. Akerf 54 is cut in the end of the bracket (see Figure 4) to receive arotating cuttingblade or knife 55 secured to shaft 56 that is carried ina bearing 57 on the end of an arm 58 arranged beneath the bracket. Arm58 is provided with a sleeve 59 that surrounds post 47, the arrangementbeing such that arm 58 and blade 55 carried by itmay Arm 58 carries atransverse shaft 60o`n The handle which ulleys 61- and 62 are rotatablymounted. Rotarymotion istransmitted toshaft 56 and the blade carriedthereby by means ota belt bracket in any convenientmanner. i

Guards 67 and'68 further protect the operator from thecutting blade whensaid blade is swungfrom its operative to its inoperative position.

iIn the operation of this -form of my invention lthe continuouslyrotating cutting blade -is swung -to oneside so that its cutting edgeVis outsidethe kerf 54. Theoperator inserts a fruit haltin receptacle 58and depresses lever 21 to trim the edge of the half Vin the mannerabovedescribed. The under surfaceiof the fruit is then trimmed by cuttingathin slice therefrom byswinging` arm 587and the cutting blade carriedthereby so thatthe blade 55enters the kert 54 to leilect thisresult as(will be readily understood.

.The invention has been abovedescribed in detail, ybutit should beunderstood that my invention does not reside in such details. In usingthe apparatus described a novel method vof trimming fruit is employed.

This method can be carried out by hand or.

b @machines differing widely from that a .ve specifically described. Forexample, I have used a concavedisk secured to a spindle asia meanstoifirmly press a fruit half into substantial contact with the walls oiacy-v lindrical receptacle. This device was held in one handand with the'fruit compressed 'f and `'spread as indicated, I trim the edges with acylindrical `cutter that is given a turning movement'- by the otherhand.

What I claimr as my invention is: .l Y {1.YA method of trimming fruitof,A irregular shape which consists in subjecting the fruit toipressureto spread it laterally, and trimming the, edges while maintaining saidpressure. f f

.2. A method of trimming 'fruit of irregu 'lar shape and having:v the'core removed-'to form a* hollow body, whichl comprises subv jectingsaid body toa pressure actingin a direction to cause the edges. of theYfruit t0 spreadlaterally, .and'trimming said edges While maintaining`saidpressure.

" 3. iA method of trimming fruit of irregular shape which consists-insubjecting the fruitito pressure toispread it laterally, while confiningit vfrom undue lateral spreading, 1

trimmingthev edges while maintaining said pressure,Y andtrimming theunder surface ot the fruit while confined laterally.

4. A vmethod of trimming fruit of irregular shape, which consists, insubjecting the. fbody'of the fruit to pressure to' spread the ecured'.to shaft 56 isa pulley 63.-

free edges laterally, while confining the rurit Afrom undue lateralspreading, and

. trimming said -free edges while maintaining said pressure.

5. A methodoi trimming halved fruit of irregular shape having the coreremoved to form a hollow body, which consists in subs jecting said bodyto pressure applied in a direction ysubstantially normal to the halvingcut toy expand the edges ot the fruit, and then trimming said edgeswhile maintaining said pressure.

6. A machine for trimming irregular fruit comprising means to supportthe fruit, means to yieldingly engage the body of the ,fruit to spreadit laterally and means to trim the edges ot the spread fruit.

7. A machine for trimming irregular fruit comprising a support for thefruit, a reciprocating head mounted over said support, said headincluding a cutter and means within said cutter yieldingly secured tosaid head ior engaging the body of the fruit in advance of said cutter,and means to reciprocate said head.

S. A machine tor trimming irregular fruit comprising a support tor thefruit, a cylindrical cutter for trimming the edges of said fruit, meanswithin said cutter to engage the bodyot the fruit, said cutter and meansbeing mounted in a reciprocating head, said means being yieldablymounted and slidable in said head, means to reciprocate said head andmeans to rotate said cutter.

9. A fruit trimming machine comprising a support, a table carried bysaid support, a reciprocating head above said table, said head carryinga cylindrical cutter and yieldingly mounted me; `ns within said cutterdesigned to engage the body of the fruit withn yielding pressure beterethe cutter 1 engages the edges ot the fruit, means to reciprocate saidhead, and means to rotate said cutter with respect to said means.

l0. A fruit trimming` machine comprising a table havinga cut awayportion extending inwardly from its periphery, a disk having openingsarranged to successively register wit-h said cutaway portion rotatablymounted on said table, a reciprocating head mounted over said table,said head carrying a cylindricalcuttcr designed to enter said openingsin' succession. means to assure registry of said cutter and openings,and

` means to reciprocate said head and simultaneously advance saidregistering means.

11. A fruit trimming machine comprising a table having a recess tosupport the fruit, a standard having spaced parallel arms overhangingsaid recess, a sleeve supported between said arms, means to rotate saidsleeve, a hollow spindle keyed to said sleeve andslidable therein, a rodwithin said spindle', fruit engaging means yieldingly secured to saidrod, a cylindrical cutter secured to said spindle, a lever7 said leverbeing cons nected to said spindle to reciprocate said spindle and rod.

l2. A fruit trimmer comprising a table having a cutaway portion, a diskpivoted to said table, said dislr having openings approximating thecontour ol the fruit designed to register in succession With saidcutaway portion, means to spread the fruit in said openings, and meansto trim the edges of the fruit.

13. An organized fruit trimming machine, comn'ising means to feed thel'ruit to a trimming station, said means being in the form of areceptacle approximating the size of a single fruit, a reciprocatoryhead at said station, said head carrying yieldaole means to spread thefruit in said receptacle, and trimming means to trim the circumferentialedges, and means to reciprocate said head and rotate said trimmingmeans.

lai. An organzied fruit trimming machine comprising a receptacleapproximating in size the fruit to be trimmed, means arranged over saidreceptacle to yieldingly engage the fruit to spread it in saidreceptacle, means to trim the circumferential edges of the spread fruitand means to trim the under surface of the fruit in said receptacle.

15. An organized fruit trimming machine comprising a lined supportcontaining a recess approximating in size the size of the fruit to hetrimmed, a reciprocatory head over said recess, said head carryingyieldahle means to engage and spread the fruit in said recess, and acutter to trim the circumferential edges, and a second cutter i'novableacross the bottom of said recess to trim the under surface ot the fruitin said recess.

1G. An organized fruit trimming machine comprising a fixed supportrecessed to receive the fruit to he trimmed and provided with a hertjust above the plane of the bottom of said recess, means to yieldinglyspread the fruit in said recess, means to trim the circumferential edgeoi' the spread fruit, and a cutting blade mounted to swing into saidlierf to trim the under surface of the iruit in said recess.

17. A fruit trimming machine comprising a recessed support for thefruit, said recess conforming roughly to the size of the fruit, aswingingly mounted cutter arranged adjacent said suport with the cuttingedge of said cutter in a plane at right angles to the axis of saidrecess and spaced slightly from the bottom of said recess.

123. A. 'ruit trimming machine as defined in claim 17 in Which thecritter' is a continuously rotating disk mounted on the swingingsupport.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature.

ARTHUR L. DUNCAN.

